Anticipated storm never really came! Of course the kids were disappointed – but… I had the day to myself – trying to do as much work as possible…

For dinner, I made a dish that I had seen on Rachael Ray – Grilled chicken, eggplant, tomato and mozzarella cheese. Everything but the cheese gets grilled separately – drizzling olive oil and adding a dash of salt & pepper – stacking all and popping back in the over to just melt the cheese! Mmmmm!

You can imagine how excited I was when I learned the Ree Drummond – The Pioneer Woman – was going to be on Good Morning America cooking up some of her recipes! I’ve been following her site for over a year now – loving every recipe, photo and story. She is my idol – for sure!

Here are some of her recipes that she shared with us yesterday on GMA:

More phone calls – e-mails – and a few text messages – a nice, busy Monday.

Then, after my first of six loads of laundry was washed – I threw it into the dryer, and… nothing. My dryer was not working and I’m having a mini-fit!

So, after spending some time attempting to fix the dryer myself – Ha! that was a pretty site! I called Sears and scheduled an appointment for their repair service to come out and basically save my laundry life. Please keep in mind that the 6 loads of laundry are almost EVERY DAY!

So, I washed 5 loads of laundry, ran to the laundromat to dry them….

Squeezed all 5 loads into 4 dryers since they are substantially larger than my Elite Dryer at home – then took off to pick up pellets. Once I came back, my clothes just needed a few more minutes and Voila! All was dry! Boy, I wish I had this many dryers at home!!!

Sunday – finally, a day to relax….. NOT! Have a wonderful new client who is looking into purchasing in Connecticut – possibly Ridgefield.

After making loads of phone calls, e-mails and working here – on my blog – I took a quick ride to Shaw’s since the kiddies are back to school tomorrow and I need a few things – going to the market 4 to 5 times a week is never enough!

-Sturdy boxes that can support weight. Lots and lots of boxes. It is better to have more than enough now than to be scrambling towards the end trying to gather more. …And you don’t want to start over-packing them.

-Marking pens, various colored

-Colored stickers

-Bubble wrap or similar packing material

-Newspaper & tissue paper (be careful how you use newspaper. Direct contact can stain some of your items.)

-Packing tape. Lots and lots of packing tape.

-Resealable plastic bags, like Ziploc® bags, are great for keeping small items together – and you can label the bags with pernmanent marker.

Here are some packing tips and things that you may not have thought of:

-Keep a notebook so you can write everything down. You’ll be quite grateful later.

-Check with your homeowners or renters insurance to see how you and your valuables are covered during the move. Find out what your insurance company requires when filing a claim and keep that information in a safe place – don’t load it on the moving van. Also, check with the mover if you need any additional coverage.

-Pack everything ahead of time that you can. Moving is stressful enough, so don’t wait until the last minute on items that don’t have to.

-Use strong, sturdy boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe, and other special items. Make sure you have enough! Set aside ten (10) boxes for last minute items.

-Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box. If you think it’s too heavy, it probably is.

-Wardrobe boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items like comforters and pillows, or clothing that needs to remain on a hanger. Pack it tightly to keep contents from disorganizing during the move.

-Assign one storage tote (color coordinate) for each person. Let them fill their own storage tote with items they will want right away in the new home. (Glasses case, pens, paper, flashlight, tissues, makeup, etc.)

-You can never have enough packing tape to secure all those boxes.

-Develop a system and label each box: which room, whether it is fragile, will you need it unloaded first? Pack it last. Click here for our Box # & Contents List.

-To make things easier for you and the movers, color code the boxes according to room, such as orange for the kitchen, yellow for the dining room, etc. Track this on our Box # & Contents List. For the movers, put a matching sticker on the door to each room. It’s also helpful to post an obvious sign in each room telling the movers where to stack the boxes.

-Cushion contents with packing material (newspaper, tissue paper) or wrap up items in towels and blankets to save room (you have to pack them anyway).

-Pack your luggage with items and clothing you will need for the first couple days in your new home.

-Have rugs and drapes cleaned before moving and leave them in their wrappings for the move.

-Pack audio, video, and other media equipment in their original boxes. Label cables and tighten screws. If removing screws, store them in resealable plastic bags. Use rubber bands to keep cables together and store them with the screws in the resealable plastic bags. Resealable plastic bags are great for keeping smaller items together. Mark the bags with what equipment the parts belong to with a permanent marker. Color-coordinate (box/room) and pack.

-Pack medicines in a leak-proof container.

-If you must clean your old place, put aside all the cleaning supplies you will need for when it is empty. Surprisingly, this is a benefit, as you will need your cleaning supplies right away for your new home.

–Carry all valuables and important papers with you.Do not put them on the moving van/truck.

Plants: Check with your local U.S. Department of Agriculture for regulations regarding moving plants from one state to another. Many states have restrictions.

The Northern Fairfield County Association of Realtors® (NFCAR) offers this information strictly as a guide to assist in the task of residential moving. Under no terms may NFCAR, its Board of Directors, staff, nor membership may be held responsible nor liable for any inaccuracies, complications, or problems associated with your move, contracts, or transactions.

GETTING TO KNOW ME

As a full time REALTOR in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties in NEW YORK – and Fairfield and parts of Litchfield counties in CONNECTICUT , I am very pleased to have the opportunity to share my passions on REAL ESTATE, FAMILY, PETS, anything and everything in and around a HOME – including COOKING, MOVIES, MUSIC and more!

I have been married for 25+ years to my wonderfulhusband Joe. We have 5 children – Melissa, David, Amanda, Sara and Jonathan. After waiting anxiously – for almost 17 years, being home with my kids for 10 and a Nursery school teacher for 7 years – I FINALLY became a Licensed Realtor – first in Connecticut – where my family and I live – and then in New York – where my office, Century 21 V.J.F. Realty is located.

I was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, New York. My parents, who came to the US from Portugal, were extremely hardworking – with even stronger ethics on being goodtoeveryone – everywhere – period! “Faz bem, nao olhes a quem.” This has been instilled in me all my life, which has made me the mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and the REALTOR I am today. Thank You Ma and Papa.

Contact Me

CELL/TEXT: 203-648-2619
E-Mail: Diana.Santos@Century21.com

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